Single Publication

Currant Creek Fire Update

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Size: 193 acres | Containment: 20%

Tuesday night just as the sun was setting, firefighters on the line noticed a flare-up of fire activity on the southeast finger of the fire area. It appeared a firebrand had blown into unburned vegetation along the perimeter of the fire. Firefighters quickly got to work building handline around the spot fire that was aggressively consuming oak, pinion, and juniper. They also utilized tactical firing operations to strengthen the dozer line that had been constructed earlier in the day. By applying fire strategically, firefighters can “fight fire with fire” by consuming available fuels in advance of a natural fire. This slows or halts the spread of natural fire when it meets the fireline, reducing the potential for it to jump or spot over the line. The operation was successful and firefighters successfully held the spot fire at the dozer line, working until it was sufficiently suppressed at approximately 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Crews were back on the fire by 8:00 a.m. Their primary objective today was to secure the spot fire and to ensure that no additional hotspots were created by the flare-up throwing firebrands over the line Tuesday night. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) utilizing thermal cameras confirmed the fire was still confined to the west side of the ridge. The spot fire contributed to a 9-acre increase in size. Fire behavior was still fairly active throughout the day, so the helicopter was utilized to make water drops and cool troublesome hotspots enough that firefighters could work them. Other crews scoured the surrounding area for heat to eliminate any hotspots that might contribute to another flare-up.

A second bulldozer has been brought on to construct contingency lines in the Dry Creek drainage, while the first bulldozer continues improving and widening the line that was constructed yesterday. There is now dozer line from Currant Creek Road north of the fire area up to the ridge, from the ridge down to the burned area on the northernmost finger, continuing along the ridge and tied into the burned area on the southernmost finger. While firefighters are working hard to contain this fire, it is still active and there may be visible flames and smoke in the area until the fire is declared “out”.

Preparedness: It’s never too late to prepare and plan for the possibility of being impacted by wildfires. This includes having evacuation plans for yourself, your family, and your animals, having a “go-bag” ready, performing wildfire mitigation on and around your home, and even having a plan for creating clean indoor air when smoke gets thick outside. It’s also important to sign up for alerts, so you can immediately be notified if there is a fire or other emergency happening in your area. Visit DeltaCountyCO.gov/Alerts to sign up or learn more about Emergency Alerts in Delta County. For resources on planning for wildfire, visit ready.gov/wildfires.

Closures: Currant Creek Road remains closed to the public at the intersection with Cactus Park Road. Only residents on the lower portions of Currant Creek Road, south of the fire, will be permitted past the road closure. We ask that non-residents or anyone wanting to look at the fire please avoid the area. We need to maintain a clear access road for firefighter safety.

Fire Links:

West Slope Fire Info | https://www.westslopefireinfo.com

Delta County Sheriff's Office | Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - https://www.deltacountyco.gov/138/Burning-Restrictions

Currant Creek Fire Update | https://www.deltacountyco.gov/656/Issued-Alerts

Current Creek Inciweb Page | https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/inc.../coupd-currant-creek-fire